Here’s An Empowering, Cost-Saving Tool To Help You Take Charge Of Your Health

While millennials and Gen Zers are more likely to be invested in wellness than any other generation (they practically invented self-care), they’re less likely to seek help when they need it due to high costs of healthcare and unpredictable bills. Fifty-one percent of millennials visit a physician less than once a year, and Gen Z is the generation that’s most likely to avoid going to the doctor — unless it’s a literal emergency. In fact, two out of three Gen Zers have avoided a doctor’s appointment due to cost! And when they do visit a doctor, they want it to be online: More than 70% of younger generations prefer telehealth to IRL visits.

These are all reasons companies like GoodRx are so refreshing (and potentially lifesaving!), especially to individuals in their 20s and 30s. As the leading consumer-focused digital healthcare platform, GoodRx delivers affordable and convenient access to care. While GoodRx is known best for its low and transparent prices on prescription medications, it’s so much more than that.

But don't just take our word for it. Here are five ways GoodRx can help you take charge of your health, with the research and stats to prove it.

1. GoodRx Offers Savings On Generic And Brand-Name Medications

In the United States, prescription medication prices are more than 250% higher overall compared to other countries. The average American spends $1,300 on prescription medications per year. Unlike eating out and traveling, this is one area of spending you can’t really cut back on if you’re looking to curb your spending habits.

Fortunately, GoodRx can help you find savings of up to 80% on prescription medications by using their free website or mobile app. Simply type in your drug name and see what it will cost at all of the pharmacies in your area. Sometimes the price can vary by upwards of $100 between pharmacies on the same block. What’s more, GoodRx doesn’t just offer savings for generic drugs, but brand-name drugs too. You can find available patient assistance programs, copay cards, and other savings options directly on the GoodRx site.

With their discounts accepted at over 70,000 pharmacies across the U.S., there are so many opportunities to save.

2. GoodRx Helps Answer Your Most Burning Health Questions

Whenever I feel the slightest thing wrong — a scratch in my throat, a weird tummy grumble, or just a general feeling of being ‘off’ — I do what everyone else does: Turn to the Internet and vigorously research my symptoms. Millennial and Gen Zers’ bad habit of diagnosing ourselves isn’t going away anytime soon, so GoodRx is making sure there are clear, easy-to-understand, and expert-approved answers to our most pressing health questions at GoodRx Health.

With a dedicated editorial team of over 50 healthcare experts, GoodRx Health takes a different approach to answering vital health questions by diving deep into medical research and scientific literature and then delivering answers in clear, succinct language that you can actually understand. All content is created by GoodRx Health’s teams of doctors, pharmacists, psychologists, PhDs, policy analysts, and healthcare journalists — so you know it’s information you can trust. The team is also dedicated to delivering the most current health information available by updating and improving content regularly.

A team of personal finance experts also provides expert resources around cost, savings, and insurance coverage to arm consumers with the information they need to make smart decisions about their money and their health.

3. It Offers An Alternative To Insurance

Insurance is helpful, but let’s be real — there are times it can be incredibly frustrating. It’s not unheard of for many people to never actually hit their deductible and end up paying out of pocket for most healthcare services — prompting you to wonder why you even pay for insurance to begin with.

While GoodRx is not insurance, it can be used instead of insurance, providing an alternative way to pay for healthcare that not only won’t break the bank, but also won’t complicate or interfere with your insurance policy. Whether you have a high deductible plan or high copay, or the drug you need just isn’t covered by insurance at all, using your insurance doesn’t always guarantee you the best price. Plus, all GoodRx services — including coupons for prescriptions and GoodRx Care online healthcare provider services — feature transparent pricing, so you’ll pay for your care without the fear of getting hit with a monster bill you can’t afford three months later.

“You can and should use a GoodRx discount instead of your health insurance or Medicare if the price is lower,” advises Karla Robinson, M.D., a family physician and medical editor for GoodRx. “You can always ask your insurer to reimburse you or apply your purchase against your deductible, although it is up to the insurance company to determine whether they will honor your request.”

4. Telehealth Services Are Available Through GoodRx Care

GoodRx puts healthcare within reach for everyone — regardless of insurance status — with its online provider platform GoodRx Care. With GoodRx Care, you can get quality online consultations with a medical professional for a variety of primary care services, all for a low, flat rate, and all from the comfort of your own home (or wherever it is you need to be that day). With GoodRx Care, you can get treatment for simple ailments like a UTI or a pesky cold, or get short-term refills on medications.

“Telehealth is a great way to receive care when an in-person appointment with a primary care physician is not possible or isn’t warranted,” says Robinson. “Not all conditions need in-person care. Things like birth control refills, or treatment for a cold or the flu can easily be done remotely in most cases. Even if you aren’t sure whether you need in-person attention, scheduling a telehealth appointment is a great place to start to understand your next steps.”

5. It Can Help You Save (A Lot) Of Money

GoodRx is completely free for anyone to use, and signing up for a free account often unlocks additional savings. There’s also the option of joining GoodRx Gold, a monthly membership program costing $9.99 per month for an individual membership that provides even greater discounts on prescriptions, healthcare services, and more. Robinson recommends GoodRx Gold as a cost-saving option for families and individuals with chronic conditions or recurring prescriptions.

In 2021 alone, more than 5 million people saved more than $500 on their prescriptions by using GoodRx — which is reason enough for most to give it a try. Not to mention GoodRx beats the cost of the average commercial insurance copay over 50% of the time. It’s always worth it to investigate and compare your potential savings before fulfilling a new prescription or making a doctor's appointment.